Latch.



J. L. POLLOCK.

LATCH.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 16, 1915.

1,230,774. I Patented June 19, 1917.-

wi/tnaoo Mr W 5/ lmflqfl 8% m I l 7% W M MW JOHN LOUIS POLLOCK, OFSTERLING, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO NICHOLAS BAINONE ANDONE-THIRD TO ALBERT MILLER, OF STERLING, ILLINOIS.

LATCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 19, 1917.

Application filed October 16, 1915. Serial No. 56,167.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN LOUIS PoLLooK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Sterling, in the county. of Whiteside and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Latches, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention has reference to latches, and

pertains more specially to that class thereof which are commonly knownas night latches. In many instances the night latches are employed ondoors which are in frequent use during the day-time, such as doors ofstores and other public places, in which use it is desired to have thelatch held permanently in an inoperative pos1- tion, means beingemployed for locking the latch from outward movement in the easing. Inreleasing the latch from such position this locking means is frequentlyoperated by means of a small knob or thumbslide on the outside of thecasing, and on the inside of the door, but in the ordinary use of thedoor there is danger of such knob being accidentally moved by the arm orclothing of a person passing through the door, causing a springing ofthe latch and accidental locking of the door, perhaps with the operatoron the outside-thereof. The latch may also be released from its-lockedposition within the casing by children or other irresponsibles tamperingwith the thumb-piece.

One of the purposes of my invention is to provide a novel means forsecuring the latch in place in withdrawn position and effecting therelease thereof, the releasing means being guarded against casualoperation.

In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a latch embodying my invention, from theinner side of the latch casing. Fig. 2 is a similar view with some ofthe parts removed, showing the latch locking devices. Fig. 3 is an outerface view of a portion of the casing and projecting parts thereon. Fig.4 is a side view of the barrel 18 in inverted position. Fig. 5 is alongitudinal section thereof.

1 represents a casing of usual form, provided with flanges 2 forattachment to a door, and 3 is a latch slidable in said casing andprovided with arms 4: having on their ends lugs 5 adapted to be engagedby a cam 6 secured on a short spindle 7 rotatably outside of the casingwith a rim 19.

mounted in the casing 1, and provided on its outer end with a knob orhandle 8, by means of which said cam may be actuated. The only othermeans for operating said cam is by means of a latch-key insertible fromwithout the door and suitable lock devices not herein shown.

The latch 3 is held normally in extended. position by means of a framecomprising a cross-bar9 perforated at its ends for a slidable mountingon a pair of pins 10, on which extensile coil springs 11 are interposedbetween the ends of the bar 9 and lugs 12 in the casing. Aconstant'pressure outwardly upon the bar 9 and latch 3 is therebyexerted at all times. At their outer ends the pins 10 are providedwithheads 13 which have free movement in the end of the casing 1, permittinga free lateral adjustment of the outer part of the frame and preventingthe latch from binding against the edge of the casing.

The bar 9 is preferably connected with the latch 3 by means of a tongue14 on such bar engaging a recess 15 in the outer face of the latch.(Shown in broken line.) The parts can thus be quickly assembled withoutthe use of any special fastening means, and so as to operate in unison.

Fixed in the casing 1 is a plate 16 provided with a circular opening 17in which is rigidly held a barrel 18 provided on the Extending throughthe barrel 18 is a slot 20 in which is held a pin 21, provided on itsouter end with a button 22 encircled by the rim 19. The inner end of theslot 20 is central of the barrel 18 and the pin 21 is normally held insuch inner end, with the button 22 held at a central point of the rim19. In the plate 16 is a recess 23 in which is pivoted a lever 24, oneend of which is adapted to engage a recess 25 in one of the arms 1 ofthe latch. vided with a recess 26 which accommodates the opposite end ofthe lever 24 and permits a free movement thereof. The engaging end ofthe lever 2 1 is curved and has a bearing against the pin 21, thepressure exerted thereon through the action of the spring 28 tending tohold said pin in its inner end of the slot 20.

Fixed to the plate 16 is a plate 29 provided with an opening 30 formingan extension of the opening 17 and receiving the end of the The barrel18 is probe opened and closed without hindrance therefrom. If a personpassing out through the door desires to release the latch, so that thesame will operate this can be accomplished by pushing the button 22outwardly or toward the edge of the door, with the finger or thumb. Thiscause-s the pin 21 to move outwardly in the slot 20, forcing the innerend ofthe lever 24: outwardly and the opposite end inwardly, releasingthe arm 4: and permitting the return of the latch to its normalposition.

The button 22 with its encircling rim has the appearance of an ordinarypush-button and attempts would undoubtedly be made by those not informedas to the construction thereof to force the same inwardly, which cannotbe accomplished, the real method of operation of such button being sothoroughly concealed as to rarely be detected by those not acquaintedwith the secret. It will be apparent, also, that the button isthoroughly protected by the surrounding rim so that there is no dangerof the same being accidentally operated.

The arms 4 are provided with projecting pins 31 which come in contactwith the cam 6 when such cam is in a neutral position, as in Fig.1, andlimit the inward movement of the latch, so that no engagement of thelever 24 and recess 25 can take place. When the door is swung shut andthe latch forced inwardly by coming in contact with a strike of usualconstruction no locking of the latch in inward position will result, butit will immediately return to outer position in its keeper. The lockingof the latch in with drawn position can be accomplished only byoperation of the spindle 7.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters-Patent ofthe United States, is:

l. A device of the class described, comprising a casing adapted to beattached to a door; a latch slidable therein and held normally inextended position; means for'operating said latch; a barrel mounted insaid casing and provided with a longitudinal slot and transverse recess;a spring-controlled lever adapted to engage saidlatch at one of itsends. and having its other end movable in said recess; a pin held insaid slot in engagement with said lever and provided with a button onthe outside of said casing, said pin being held normally at a centralpoint in said barrel by said spring-controlled lever; and a guard-rimfor said button on the outer face of the casing. i

2. In a device of the class named, a casing adapted to be attached to adoor; a latch slidable therein and held normally in extended position;cam-operating devices capable of moving said latch inwardly; means forlocking said latch in inward position; a slider-button on the outside ofsaid casing operatively'connected with said locking devices to releasethe same; and stop members carried by said latch and adapted to engagethe cam-operating devices when in a normal position, and prevent thelocking of said latch in withdrawn position.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN LOUIS POLLOGK.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Batents,

' Washington, D. G.

